Wednesday, June 18, 2008

While putting your toddler in the middle of the forest is probably not the smartest thing in the world, bringing the forest to their room might just do the trick. The Amenity Nursery Collection has just been released, featuring some lovely nature inspired and environmentally friendly products to green your toddler’s crib.

Nicole Chiala and Kristina de Corpo opened the L.A. based Amenity in 2004 to bring their modern, high quality, nature-inspired designs to the broader market. They just released a series of nursery products for you and your little ones to enjoy, all of them made from organic and sustainably sourced fibers.

Their range includes organic cotton based blankets to keep him warm; hemp-based stretched prints for hanging on the wall; recycled plastic bottle fiber filled pillows for them to play with; crib sheets and skirts, bumper covers all made from natural fibers and water-based dyes. For more details on their products check out Bobby Berk Home. Their products are available now.

Who says contemporary design can't be kid friendly? Sure, it's sleek and spare (read: wonderful), but it also can be whimsical and inviting. Take the classic Eames rocker or the rainbow-hued Nelson ball clock, which seem like they could have been created with children in mind.

Spot on Square's new collection of kids' furniture further proves this theory. The elegant, clean-lined pieces feature playful flared feet and a refreshingly thoughtful construction. The dresser doubles as a changing station; the toddler bed has high sides near the headboard to prevent falls and an open lower half to facilitate tucking in, and so on. The items are also a sound environmental bet: All come in a choice of recycled or reclaimed MDF coated with non-toxic white paint or MDF mixed with natural-colored birch or bamboo.

Surround him with all those good influences and you might just inspire the next Saarinen or Starck.

Collaborate, create, and give back...responsible design.Eight icons of design have joined forces with Orange22 Design Lab to launch the firm’s Blank Canvas Project. All of the super high-profile designers, including Yves Behar, Kamin Rashid, MIlton Glaser and Massimo Vignelli, have created new editions of Orange22’s indoor-outdoor, eco-friendly Botanist furniture. Botanist matches each designers royalty to a foundation or charity of their choice.

“When we began thinking about the Botanist Blank Canvas project two years ago, we knew we wanted to produce more than furniture. Botanist is about entrusting our colleagues – each of whom we admire, to do what they love and give back in the process. Botanist is simply a unique business model that serves as a catalyst to empower design for positive change,” says Dario Antonioni, founder of Orange22.

Creativity empowered for positive change.Botanist is a winning formula, because while the project has produced breathtaking furniture, it will also effect positive social change. Orange22’s original Botanist line features intricate surface patterns cut with water-jet technology. Each sleek, metal form begins its life as a Blank Canvas.

“We designed the structures to be strong and versatile enough to sustain any pattern we could imagine,” says Antonioni. “Now, the industry’s most celebrated designers will do the dreaming. Consumers are embracing design more and more each year and now with the Blank Canvas program they purchase furniture products with the knowledge that they too will be making a difference.”

Not for the faint of heart, the bold styling of the Talon Bedding Collection makes a can't-miss statement with the cutting-edge, contemporary flair that has become synonymous with the Dwell Studio company. A fresh manila background hosts a dramatic, Oriental-inspired pattern yarn-dyed in a dark grey Ink.

With the DwellStudio duvet set, you'll receive one Talon duvet and one pair of standard shams with a flanged contrasting border. Additional standard shams are available for purchase separately. Tailored piping on the duvet adds a refined touch. Pair the Talon duvet with DwellStudio Edge Sheets for a thoroughly modern ensemble.

Those with contemporary tastes don't have to sacrifice classic comfort. Our Talon bedding is woven from 100% combed Egyptian cotton with an indulgent 320 thread count. And you can bid adieu to costly dry-cleaning -- easy-care DwellStudio bedding can be machine-washed and -dried for the ultimate in low-maintenance care.

For nearly a decade, the DwellStudio company has been delighting consumers with an eclectic, intriguingly designed collection of home textiles. Whether you're looking for refined table linens or ultra-soft bedding, you'll find the perfect offering to suit your individual tastes. The Talon bedding set is a striking example of DwellStudio's dedication to wholly unique, artfully woven home fabrics.

To create a unique product in harmony with nature and man, we use soy as our principal ingredient, one that is natural and comes from the earth itself. It may be superfluous to explain what soy is, but perhaps not everyone knows the reason for whic h millions of people worldwide use soy as their primary source of protein.

As a fiber,soy is composed of long srands of amino acids, the same amino acids that produce enzymes that are essential for the body's well being.

Our Soygreen covering, treated with microcapsules of soy protein, emits these beneficial properties during sleep for the entire body's benefit.

In addition to its rejuvenating properties, Soygreen is a pleasure for the eyes and to the touch.

Comparable to fine silk, soy fiber is very soft, luminous and lustrous. The internal structure of the Soygreen mattress is Ecogreen. Grooved on both sides of the mattress with deep-set channels, this unique core allows for increased air circulation throughout the mattress, assuring that you sleep in your most comfortable position and in a dry and hygienic environment.

Ecogreen is a natural material infused with essential plant oils known for their anti-rheumatic properties.

Once again, man and nature are together like leaves of the same tree, like cells of the same body, all part of the earth.

Create a letter-perfect nursery with our Alphabet Crib Bedding from Dwell Studio. In a refreshing, contemporary style, this baby bedding set uses décor-friendly, earth-based tones to display the alphabet in a fun, unique way. The large block letters serve as a visual stimulus for baby, helping to promote cognitive development and providing an entertaining diversion.

Woven from 100% combed Egyptian cotton, this luxury nursery bedding sets itself apart from ordinary versions with an unusually sumptuous 320 thread count, ensuring that your little one enjoys the same level of comfort as you. The bedding pieces can be machine-washed and -dried for easy maintenance, retaining their vibrant coloring and softness with multiple washings.

Outfit your nursery with the entire Dwell Studio Alphabet Crib Bedding Set, or select the crib blanket, boudoir pillow, and fitted sheet individually. The individual fitted crib sheet and boudoir pillow feature an oversized alphabet pattern, while the crib skirt and fitted sheet included in the crib set arrive as shown. The padded crib bumper includes decorative ties that attach securely to the crib slats to ensure baby's comfort. Complement the Alphabet baby bedding set with the matching bibs and burp cloth, combining everyday convenience with whimsical style. At bath time, the Alphabet hooded towel keeps baby fashionably warm.

A sister brand of Dwell Studio, Dwellbaby was founded in 2002 with a distinct focus on luxurious, contemporary crib bedding and nursery accessories for today's pampered baby. Dwell believes baby products should be well-designed and aesthetically pleasing, as well as durable and comfortable. These visions are beautifully exemplified in the Alphabet nursery bedding collection.

Bring a touch of the soothing outdoors into the bedroom with the nature-inspired Chinoiserie Bedding Set from DwellStudio. This avarian masterpiece portrays a variety of birds perched on branches, all depicted in lifelike detail using vivid earth tones. A creamy pearl background rejuvenates any space with a clean, fresh feel. Ideal for outfitting a rustic mountainside cabin or any casual, relaxed space.

Combining plush luxury with everyday practicality, this easy-care Dwell bedding can be machine-washed in warm water. Rinse with cold water, tumble-dry low, and iron as needed. The Chinoiserie duvet set includes one duvet cover and two standard shams with the matching bird motif. Choose from Full/Queen or King sizes. Round out the Dwell bedding ensemble with individually sold French-back pillowcases, available in Standard or King.

Founded in 1999, DwellStudio prides itself on maintaining rigorous standards of quality and design for their collection of inspired home styles. From luxury bedding to fine table linens, each of Dwell's products reflects the same devotion to premier materials and time-honored craftsmanship, beautifully reflected in the Chinoserie bedding collection.

100% Organic cotton fabric and fill - certified by Control Union. Stuffed with fluffy organic cotton and machine washable. Do not put stuffed toys in a crib or near an area where an infant may sleep. * Set of three blocks * 3", 4.5", and 6" cubes * made from recycled pieces of solid and patterned bedding - colors and combinations may vary * care - machine wash warm, normal cycle, tumble dry low, do Not bleach. Wash before use. * AZO-Free colorants * elimination of heavy metals in dyes

Q Collection Junior™ is the newest member of the Q Collection® family. And, like most new babies, its arrival was eagerly anticipated. But certain things can't be rushed. Like healthy babies, which is what this story is all about.

You see, since our beginning, Q Collection has been known for creating beautifully designed furniture and textiles that are safe for people, safe for the planet. Creating the same thing for children, especially infants, was unusually challenging. But we're proud to say we now have an entire line of children's furniture and bedding made to the standards you've always known us to maintain. We feel it's been worth the wait, and hope you share in that feeling.

Q Collection Junior's entire line of children's furniture and bedding is made to the toughest environmental standards anywhere. Everything we do is designed to eliminate anything harmful or toxic in the products themselves, or in the way they're made. It is the reason we exist. Truth is, no furniture company does more than Q Collection Junior to protect our children and their planet than we do.

But that's just part of Q Collection Junior's story. We think the look and functionality of our products are just as important as their health and safety. After all, if you are inviting our products into your home, and into your child's room, they should be beautiful, elegant, and whimsical.

And while Q Collection may be known for our furniture, Q Collection Junior goes even farther, with a line of organic baby bedding made to the same exacting standards. Our thinking was simple - why go to such lengths to design a healthy, non-toxic crib if babies were going to sleep on bedding made with harmful materials? So we've made sure that you have a choice of bedding that is as healthy for your child as our furniture.

After all, at Q Collection and Q Collection Junior, we don't just sell products - we sell peace of mind. People Safe. Planet Safe.

DwellStudio was founded by Christiane Lemieux in 1999 in an effort to bring modern textile design to the world of bedding. Christiane got her start in the textile world along side Bobby Berk while they were both at Portico Home. Christiane was soon joined by Jennifer Chused, and later by Christiane's husband, Joshua Young. The company quickly established itself as a leader and innovator in the bedding market — and has expanded to a fuller offering of home furnishings products, including dwelltable and dwellbaby. With a unique sense of color, an unwavering commitment to quality, and always remaining a step ahead of the crowd, dwell continues to create its own distinctive interpretation of home furnishings design. Following on the success of dwell's adult collections, dwellbaby was launched as a separate brand in 2002. Since its beginning as a select collection of crib bedding, the line has grown to include crib accessories, stuffed animals, bibs, towels, and stroller accessories — and remains the distinctive, modern voice in today's baby market. We think products for babies should be well designed, aesthetically pleasing, and able to work seamlessly within the parent's home. We think all babies should be dwell babies….let them begin in style. The Partners: Christiane Lemieux is the founder and Creative Director of dwellstudio. Before bringing her textile expertise to bedding design in 1999, Christiane was the Design Director of Portico New York, a luxury home furnishings company, and a fashion designer at Isaac Mizrahi and the Gap. Joshua Young joined the dwell team in 2001 as the President and CFO, managing dwell's financial and business operations. Joshua comes from a distinguished background in finance and real estate development as VP at The Related Companies and as VP in the Real Estate Finance Group at Chase Manhattan Bank. Jennifer Chused joined dwell in 2000 as a Partner. Having previously worked for companies such as Donna Karan, VH-1, and ROOM, as well as working as a fashion stylist for top publications, she brings a unique design sensibility. In addition to her creative role, she oversees sales and marketing.

Litto Kids stylishly designed Manhattan crib has a striking European contemporary flavor. It’s uniquely designed head and back board utilizes Zebra wood stained in walnut and is supported by a secure polished steel frame (rust protected). The rails are painted in white non-toxic paint and are fixed to provide support and stability. We’ve added platform style mattress support for added comfort and convenience.